Man found dead in Atwater. Merced County sheriff says dogs could be to blame
Authorities in Merced County are investigating the possibility of a dog attack that resulted in the death of a man in Atwater.
Deputies from the Merced County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of an unresponsive man at Highway 140 and Station Avenue early Friday.
At first, deputies thought the man had been hit by a vehicle. But deputies later found that the man had been bitten by at least one dog.
Five dogs at a nearby residence were taken for quarantine. The sheriff’s office said it is unknown whether the dogs contributed to the man’s death.
The owner of the dogs, 56-year-old Gilberto Diaz Mora, was arrested and booked into the Merced County Jail for obstruction and failure to turn his dogs over for quarantine.
The investigation is ongoing and the cause of death is pending an autopsy, the post said.
Anyone with information regarding the incident can contact Detective Gutierrez at 209-385-7472. Callers may remain confidential.
This story was originally published April 24, 2026 at 8:49 PM with the headline "Man found dead in Atwater. Merced County sheriff says dogs could be to blame."
